nobody can call trading for colborne a 'win'.
3rd, 4th line plug at best are a dime a dozen.
- Barx

Donk!

In Toronto, no...but understand that he wasnt making the team for a few reasons, not solely due to play. The Leafs were already tigh on cap space, Clarkson is out 10 games and they needed to replace him in the top 6, Colborne wasnt going to take Kadri or Bozaks spots in the top 6 and Bolland was brought in to play 3rd line center. He just didnt have a spot...though I felt he played well during the preseason.

If the Leafs could have afforded to keep him around as an extra forward Im sure they would have. Who does Toronto call up now for injuries down the middle?
- Colin Dambrauskas

If Bozak or Kadri get hurt then Bolland moves up. If Bolland gets hurt then McClement fills in on the third line. Smith gets called up for the 4th line center spot.

Fair enough, but I still say the Leafs would have much rather kept the guy than move him for a 4th if the cap wasnt a problem.
- Colin Dambrauskas

i don't think the cap was the problem... they weren't going to play him was the problem, and they new they would lose him on waivers.
i don't think they gave up on him, it's just that he needs the ice time to develop further, and they didnt have the ice-time to give him considering he was outplayed by 4 other marlies.
keeping him to just for him to sit as a healthy scratch and only participate in practice, would only fuel the cap issue...
i look at it as they did him a favor. playing for the marlies wasnt going to help him, neither was nhl practice, with the flames, he should see ice-time and be allowed to grow/make mistakes. no room for error on the leafs.

All you got was 215 pounds of dead weight, lol. The guy is a career minor leaguer so not really a steal. On the other hand a change in scenery might bring out the best in this player who to this point has done nothing to impress or earn a job in the nhl.

not going to miss this guy at all - enjoy!

Glad he gets another chance but I wouldn't hold your breath.
- BlowMonkey

My feelings exactly, but wish him luck going to the worst team in the league.

i'm watchin the thread while jtommyt isnt around

and i'm grumpy

so dont push your luck everyone

i'm watchin the thread while jtommyt isnt around

and i'm grumpy

so dont push your luck everyone
- Dozzer

i don't think the cap was the problem... they weren't going to play him was the problem, and they new they would lose him on waivers.
i don't think they gave up on him, it's just that he needs the ice time to develop further, and they didnt have the ice-time to give him considering he was outplayed by 4 other marlies.
keeping him to just for him to sit as a healthy scratch and only participate in practice, would only fuel the cap issue...
i look at it as they did him a favor. playing for the marlies wasnt going to help him, neither was nhl practice, with the flames, he should see ice-time and be allowed to grow/make mistakes. no room for error on the leafs.
- Rockhead_37

Overall, agreed

Not everyone sees things the same, and while I agree that you cant hang on to "potential", I have watched a lot of Colborne play and he's been doing well imo. I suppose if you expect him to be a 1st/2nd line scoring centerman than youre going to be dissapointed, but he can be a strong 3rd line guy who can pot a few and maybe even work his way up to the 2nd line.

Great added depth for the Flames to acquire more youth, more size(despite needing to work on his physical game).
- Colin Dambrauskas

IMO MO is he's not defensive enough to play on an NHL teams bottom six and lacks the skill to be in the top six.. I liked Joe and being an ectomorph myself, I related to him a bit.. I hope he can be something in Calgary but I honestly think it's more than a long shot for him to reach his potential or even a solid NHL'r..

Again...Colborne had some set backs in his development and when healthy was great for the Marlies. I know most Leaf fans are thinking - the guy has done(nothing) so far, we dont need hom (now). But Im telling you, the Leafs may regret this one.

Its easy to argue that hes only posted X points in X games and therefore is a bust at 23.

I hope the message from the blog was clear though...while I hold that the Flames came out on top with respect to the trade, the Leafs really had no other choice and had to take the gamble that Colborne doesnt fully develop.
- Colin Dambrauskas

If Colborne can be anything like Brian Boyle, the Leafs lost this trade hands down

Um...I thought Feaster was the Flames GM???

No...somehow Ill need to spin this as the Leafs won


But in all seriousness, I am only writing a Leafs blog once a week and will have my next one up following their season opener against the Habs. Im not sure why fans cant accept that they may have had to give up on what some call the Leafs 2nd best prospect in order to fit under the cap...theres zero chance this happens if they had cap space. You can all thank Liles I guess.
- Colin Dambrauskas

No....Liles has nothing to do with it. The fault on cap issues lies on the GM. No one else.

No....Liles has nothing to do with it. The fault on cap issues lies on the GM. No one else.
- Iggysbff

If Colborne can be anything like Brian Boyle, the Leafs lost this trade hands down
- twiztedmike

Im not sure that Colborne will be shifted to defense anytime soon

No....Liles has nothing to do with it. The fault on cap issues lies on the GM. No one else.
- Iggysbff

Thanks...(sarcasm).

I did
- Colin Dambrauskas

well, yes I spose you did......without any idea what the acquired pick will be for the Leafs.....
you have assume colborne can still become a 'player' but don't assume the Leafs pick might end up a 'player'.

Im not sure that Colborne will be shifted to defense anytime soon
- Colin Dambrauskas

I had originally said Dan Boyle but made a typo and changed it to Brian of the NYR.

well, yes I spose you did......without any idea what the acquired pick will be for the Leafs.....
you have assume colborne can still become a 'player' but don't assume the Leafs pick might end up a 'player'.
- Barx

very fair argument, but I suppose what is also being considered is that Colborne was a 1st rounder which was acquired for a 4th. But going with this argument likely doesnt get us anywhere as the draft can be a crap shoot...

very fair argument, but I suppose what is also being considered is that Colborne was a 1st rounder which was acquired for a 4th. But going with this argument likely doesnt get us anywhere as the draft can be a crap shoot...
- Colin Dambrauskas

Maybe we should just pay all the Detroit and Ottawa scouts to work with us on that 4th rd pck

I had originally said Dan Boyle but made a typo and changed it to Brian of the NYR.
- twiztedmike

Gotcha...makes MUCH more sense Took Boyle about five years to break out in the NHL...he was also 26

2007–08 Los Angeles Kings NHL 8 4 1 5 4
2008–09 Los Angeles Kings NHL 28 4 1 5 42
2008–09 Manchester Monarchs AHL 42 10 11 21 73
2009–10 New York Rangers NHL 71 4 2 6 47
2010–11 New York Rangers NHL 82 21 14 35 74

Just noticed the Nenshi for Mayor on the main page adverts...

The guy knows how to use the social media....

Edit: Any of you not in cowtown prolly have no clue who Im talking about....

Maybe we should just pay all the Detroit and Ottawa scouts to work with us on that 4th rd pck
- twiztedmike

Detroit frustrates the hell out of me as a fan of another NHL team...the amount of late picks which they've had success with is quite remarkable.

Street Jones Smith all clear waivers.

I thought Joe did pretty well in the playoffs against Boston last year. He certainly was visible on the ice, and had presence..........this is a terrific pick up for Calgary all considering. For Toronto, well what can you do, you can't keep everyone.

Thanks...(sarcasm).
- Colin Dambrauskas

ya I know it was sarcasm....

Someone is a little testy this morning...

Or is it testis????